Boxing and drugs

AS BOXING icon and now Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao celebrates his victory over Jessie Vargas for the WBO welterweight championship yesterday, Malacañang issued a congratulatory statement citing the athlete’s fighting spirit as an inspiration to the government’s controversial

campaign against illegal drugs.

“The courage and grit displayed by our Filipino boxers in Las Vegas are the same qualities we must demonstrate as a nation to rid society of drugs, criminality and corruption. Government has been successfully waging a war on these fronts and we as a people — emulating our boxers’ toughness against all odds — must continue the strong gains as we battle towards victory.”

— Office of the Communications Secretary, Nov. 6